§ Mr. Liddell-GraingerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total annual running cost of internal drainage boards is in the UK. [105508]
§ Mr. MorleyTotal running costs for internal drainage boards in England for 2001–02 is as follows:
Internal drainage boards £ Total expenditure: 43,469,418 Of which: Maintenance of watercourses 12,475,084 Operating costs of pumping stations 4,531,685 Capital expenditure 7,556,011 Contributions to Environment Agency 7,274,828 Administration costs 6,595,368 Other 5,036,442 Note:
The breakdown above excludes information on 8 boards for whom no information was submitted to DEFRA.
§ Mr. Liddell-GraingerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many internal drainage boards there are in the UK. [105516]
§ Mr. MorleyThere are 223 internal drainage boards in England. There are no boards in Scotland.
Information on boards in Wales is held by the National Assembly.
§ Mr. Liddell-GraingerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what criteria she uses to determine that an internal drainage board is a small board. [105517]
§ Mr. MorleyThere are no definitive criteria for determining that an internal drainage board is a small board. There is a continuum with some boards covering a small area only and turning over a few thousand pounds each year to others covering much larger areas and turning over several million pounds annually.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced the Government's conclusions on the Flood and Coastal Defence Funding Review on 12 March 2003, including the intention to address the present number of internal drainage boards. In considering such issues account will be taken of factors such as their efficiency and effectiveness, their area and turnover, as well as the proximity with other boards with which they might merge or form consortia.